Deputy Attorney General Gregory Baka remains the acting AG pending Assistant Attorney General Ed Buckingham’s confirmation at the Senate.
Baka turned down Fitial’s offer to be nominated as the successor of Matthew Gregory who resigned almost a year ago.
Teresa Kim-Tenorio, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ special legal counsel, also declined the nomination.
Fitial told Senate President Pete P. Reyes that Buckingham is qualified to fulfill the vital responsibilities of the Office of the Attorney General.
“Mr. Buckingham is a highly qualified attorney with years of experience; I ask the Senate to approve his nomination,” said Fitial. “I see no issues with this nomination.”
Buckingham has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with honors. Buckingham secured his law degree from the University of Denver.
He is the third-longest serving lawyer at the AG’s office and is one of its few attorneys who have worked in both civil and criminal divisions.
He also held a key role spearheading the federal prison consent decree compliance and had served as counsel to the Departments of Public Safety and Corrections, as well as to the CNMI Board of Parole.
He is admitted to practice law in Colorado, the CNMI, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Baka backed up Buckingham’s nomination.
“Ed is a strategic thinker with goal-oriented plans for the office. I look forward to working for him in whatever capacity he sees fit,” he said.
Buckingham, for his part, said it is a privilege to be chosen as the CNMI’s next AG.
“When the governor asked me to accept his nomination, my response was, first, ‘thank you’ for the trust and confidence and, second, ‘yes’ it would be my privilege to assume this responsibility on behalf of the citizens of the commonwealth,” he said.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a session this Friday.
